A FORMER paramedic is to sue the ambulance service claiming his job left him with post traumatic stress syndrome.

A FORMER paramedic is to sue the ambulance service claiming his job left him with post traumatic stress syndrome.

Phillip Howe, 45, from Hazel Grove, Stockport, is hoping to win thousands of pounds in compensation from Greater Manchester Ambulance Service in the landmark legal action.

If he wins it could lead to similar claims from paramedics across the country.

Mr Howe left GMAS in 1999 after more than 12 years' service. He said it was a job he loved but was forced to give up when long hours, few breaks and difficult conditions left him ill.

He claims that he was often confronted by scenes of disturbing tragedy, but was not given the support he needed to help him cope.

Mr Howe, who now works as a driving instructor, told the M.E.N.: "I thought I had a job for life, I absolutely loved it, but it changed dramatically. The pressure I and others were under made life impossible."

At the time Mr Howe left GMAS, the service had come under fire from paramedics who complained they were often near to collapse after working 12-hour shifts with no rest.

This week a top ambulance union official warned lives are being put at risk because paramedics are being told to drive faster to meet 999 response times.

Staff say they are being threatened with disciplinary action if they fail to get to emergency calls within eight minutes and representatives of their union, Unison, will now meet GMAS bosses.

Stephanie Thomas, Unison's regional officer for ambulance staff, claims the service was being run "on a wing and a prayer". She said: "Our members are saying they can't work any faster and they have had enough of the way they are being treated."

Government targets say that 75pc of emergency 999 calls must be answered within eight minutes. GMAS admitted they would not achieve this and a reduced target of 60pc by the end of March was agreed. But this is still unlikely to be met.

John Williams, director of human resources at GMAS said: "Whilst we are appreciative of improvements and staff's efforts over recent months, I make no apology for the ambulance service asking staff to make every effort to improve performance. I must stress that at no time will patient or staff safety be compromised. I also categorically deny that any staff have been disciplined for failing to meet targets."